Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (Extracted from Preparation of the Competitiveness Council)

Brussels, 28 th February 2003

Mr Bolkestein will present the Commission's recently adopted proposal ( IP/03/144 and MEMO/03/20 ). The objectives of the proposal are to harmonise national laws on the means of enforcing intellectual property rights and to establish a general framework for the exchange of information between the responsible national authorities.

The proposed Directive would ensure a level playing field for rights holders in the EU, reinforce measures against offenders and thus act as a deterrent to those engaged in counterfeiting and piracy. The proposal complements a recently adopted proposal to improve the existing Regulation on seizures by customs of counterfeit goods entering the EU from third countries ( IP/03/75 ) .

Extracted from DN: MEMO/03/45 Date: 28/02/2003